Capturing volumetric dynamics at high speed in the brain by confocal light field microscopy

Abstract

Neural network performs complex computations through coordinating collective neural dynamics that are fast and in three-dimensions. Meanwhile, its proper function relies on its 3D supporting environment, including the highly dynamic vascular system that drives energy and material flow. Better understanding of these processes requires methods to capture fast volumetric dynamics in thick tissue. This becomes challenging due to the trade-off between speed and optical sectioning capability in conventional imaging techniques. Here we present a new imaging method, confocal light field microscopy, to enable fast volumetric imaging deep into brain. We demonstrated the power of this method by recording whole brain calcium transients in freely swimming larval zebrafish and observed behaviorally correlated activities on single neurons during its prey capture. Furthermore, we captured neural activities and circulating blood cells over a volume {emptyset} 800 m x 150 m at 70 Hz and up to 600 m deep in the mice brain.